Folding cabinet type ironing board



March 8, 1955 F, B. GARGAGLIONE 2,703,462

FOLDING CABINET TYPE IRONING BOARD I Filed Aug. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jie United States Patent() This invention relates to improvements in a folding cabinet-type ironing board and has as a principal object to provide a new and improved form of ironing board and support therefor extendable along the top of a cabinet and completely foldable within the cabinet, all

arranged with a View toward utmost compactncss and simplicity in construction and operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient form of folding cabinet-type ironing board supported by and completely foldable within a cabinet and closed by the top'thereof.

A still further object of my invention. is to provide a simple, rugged and eicient type of ironing board and support therefor utilizing a collapsible link held in an extended position by an over-center spring and supporting the rear end portion of the ironing board to extend along the top of a containing and supporting cabinet'and so arranged as to automatically release and draw the board within the cabinet upon upward pivotal movement of the front part of the board toward the rear end portion thereof.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a folding cabinet-type of ironing board formed in two parts hinged together intermediate their ends and hinged to a wall of the cabinet on one part and having a selffolding brace automatically folding into over-lapping relation with respect to the onepart of the board upon pivotal movement thereof toward the cabinet.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved form of collapsible link for supporting a foldable ironing board along the top of a cabinet and having a simple and positive release therefor,

automatically collapsing the link upon folding movement of the two parts of the board together.

These and other objects of my invention will vappear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention having the ironing board folded therein;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cabinet with the top thereof yopen and the ironing board unfolded and extending therefrom;

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the cabinet and board shown in Figures l and 2, showing the cover of the cabinet removed and the ironing board folded within the cabinet;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through the cabinet and board and showing the board in extended relation with respect to the cabinet; and i Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the board folded within the cabinet.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, I have shown a cabinet Y having a rear wall 11, and a front wall 12 having doors 13, 13 hinged thereto and opening to afford access to the interior of said cabinet to accommodate the cabinet 'for use in storing material therein, which may be the iron and accessories used in ironing. The cabinet also has parallel spaced end walls'15 and 16, forming a support for a foldable ironing board 17 which may be 'extended from and foldable entirely within the cabinet, and has rails 18, 18 extending along the front and rear walls thereof and supporting the rear part of the board when folded within the cabinet.

2,703,462 Patented Mar. 8, 1955 ICC The cabinet is closed by a two piece foldable cover 19 hinged together along the center thereof, so one part may fold along the other part thereof. A back board 20 extends upwardly from the rear part of the hinged cover and abuts the back wall 11 of the cabinet, when the cover is open and forms a support for said cover to hold it in a generally horizontal position so it may be utilized to support clothes or other articles.

The ironing board 17 is shown as being transversely divided into two parts 21 and 22. The front part 21 extends from the end wall 16 and folds over a rear part 22 thereof when the board is collapsed or folded within the cabinet 10. The front part 21 of the ironing board 17 is shown as being pivoted to the rear part 22 thereof by means of hinges 23, 23, which may be disappearing hinges, and are herein shownV as being hidden hinges of the Seng type in which the hinge plates are secured to the bottoms of the adjacent ends of the parts 21 and 22 of the ironing board and have right angle plates 24, 24 extending inwardly therefrom within aligned slots 25, -25 formed in the bottom of the adjacent ends of the front and rear parts of the board. The right angle plates 24, 24 abut each other when the board is vopen and limit opening movement of the board to a position where the parts 21 and 22 are in horizontal alignment with respect to each other and are connected together by an extensible linkage arrangement 26 in a well known manner'not herein shown or described in detail. The front part 21 may therefore completely fold over the rear part 22 and may be held in spaced relation'with respect to said rear part by the linkage arrangement 26, spacing the parts when the board is folded within the cabinet a distance suflcient to accommodate the padding and cover of the board (not shown).

The front part 21 of the ironing board 1'7 is shown as being hinged to the inside of the end wall 16 of the cabinet 10 by hinges 27, 27 secured to the inside of said end wall with the pivots thereof spaced downwardly from the top of said wall. An upper strap 29 of each hinge 27 extends upwardly from the hinge pivot when the board and hinge are in extended relation and an end portion 30 thereof is shown as extending at right angles with respect to the body thereof forwardly over the top of the end wall 16. The right angled portion 13 of said hinge is shown as being secured to the botton of the front part 21 of the ironing board 17 with the rear edge of the front part 21 spaced a slight distance forwardly from the rear wall of the strap 29, to support the front part of the board in horizontal relation with respect to the top of the cabinet, a slight distance above the top of the end wall 16 when in a horizontally extended position, and to completely space the two parts of the board a substantial distance beneath the tops of the end walls 15 and 16 of the cabinet, when the board is folded inwardly within the cabinet.

A collapsible link is shown as supporting the rear end of the rear part of the board in extended relation with respect to the cabinet during ironing, and as being collapsible to accommodate the board to be completely folded within the cabinet. The collapsible link 35 is herein shown as being of a toggle-like form having a lower link 36 pivoted at its lower end to a bracket 37 secured to and extending inwardly from the inside of the end wall 15 and spaced a substantial distance beneath the top of said side wall. The link 36 may be of a pressed steel construction of a generally U-shaped cross section and having two spaced ears 39, 39 extending from the legs of the U toward the end wall 15 and beyond the forward or upper end of the link.- Two similar spaced ears 40, 40 of a similar link 41 extend inwardly along the ears 39, 39 and are pivoted thereto by pivot pins 43, 43. The adjacent ends of the links 36 and 41 are shown as coming into abutting engagement with each other when the link 36 is in an extended supporting position. The opposite `end of the link 41 from the pivot pins 43, 43 is shown as being pivotally connected to the bottom of the rear part 22 of the ironing `board 17, by means of a bracket 44 depending therefrom.

An over-center spring 46 is shown as extending along the channels of the links 36 and 41 when in the aligned position shown in Figure 4 and as snapping the link in its extended position and holding it in such a position. The spring 46 is connected at one end to a connecting `hook 47 extending inwardly from the base of the channel `of the link 41 and at its opposite end to a connecting hook l49 extending inwardly from the base of the channel of Vthe link 36.

of. Thus, as the front part 21 of the ironing board 17 is folded over the rear part 22 thereof, the chain 50 will pivot the link 41 forwardly and break the joint of the collapsible link 35 positioning the spring 46 to the opposite side of the pivot pins 43, 43 from the position of said spring when said links are in an extended position. As the spring 46 passes the center of the pin 43, 43 when the joint of the link 35 is broken by the chain 50, said spring will jackknife the links 36 and 41 with a snapping action and draw the rear part of the board downwardly within the cabinet.

The front part 21 of the ironing board 17 is shown as being braced to the wall 16 of the cabinet by means of a folding brace 53. The brace 53 is shown in Figure 4 as being pivoted at its forward end to a bracket 54, depending from the bottom of the front part 21 of the ironing board. A pivot pin 55 connects the forward end portion of said brace to the bracket 54 to pivot about a transverse axis, spaced a substantial distance in advance of the end wall 16. The engaging end of the brace 53 is shown as extending parallel to the end wall 16 when the brace is in the supporting position shown in Figure 4 and as having a pad 56 secured thereto and abutting the outside of the end wall 16. The pad S6 may be a rubber or felt pad or any other pad which will not scar or mar the outside of the cabinet wall 16. A pivoted link 57 is shown as holding the brace 53 in the supporting position shown in Figure 4 and as folding said brace over the front part 21 of the ironing board to extend along the bottom thereof upon upward pivotal movement of the front part 21 of the ironing board from the extended position as shown in Figure 4. The link 57 is shown as having a transversely turned end, pivotally connected to a pivot strap 59, secured to the bottom of the brace 53. The oposite end of the link 57 extends within a slot 60 extending downwardly along the end wall 16 and opening to the top thereof. A pivot pin 61 is shown as extending outwardly from a bracket 62 within the slot 61 and beneath the top thereof. The bracket 62 is shown as being mounted on the rear edge portion of the end wall 16 and as extending downwardly along the slot 60 to position the pivot pin beneath the top of said end wall 16. The top portion of the end wall 16 inalignment with the end of the brace 53 is shown as being beveled inwardly from the forward edge thereof to form an inwardly opening inclined recess 64 providing clearance for the end of the brace 53 as the ironing board is extended from or retracted within the cabinet 10.

As the front part 21 of the board 17 is pivoted upwardly from the extended position shown in Figure 4 to the collapsed position shown in Figure 5, the link 57 will draw the brace 53 toward the bottom of the front part 21 of the ironing board and when the board is in the collapsed position said brace will be free to lie along the upwardly facing bottom of the part 21 beneath the top of the cabinet. ln a contrary manner. when the board is being unfolded, the link 57 will pivot the brace 53 outwardly and position said brace in position to engage the outside of the wall 16 when in a fully unfolded horizontally extended position and will brace the board in this position.

It may also be seen that as the board is folded over itself within the cabinet and the link 57 is folding the brace 53 over the board, that the flexible releasing device 50 will break the link 35, and cause the spring 46 to collapse said link and draw the rear end portion of the rear part of the board 22 downwardly into engagement with the rails 18, 18 of the cabinet, and that as the board is folded outwardly, the link 35 will of itself be extended and held in this extended position by the over-center spring 46.

It may further be seen that a rugged, simple and etlicient foldable ironing board has been provided, completely contained within a compact cabinet and extensible therefrom for ironing, and that the board is automatically extended and held in the correct ironing position or folded within the cabinet by simply grasping the forward end of the ironing board and pivoting it upwardly toward the cabinet, to fold the board within the cabinet or pivoting it upwardly away from the cabinet to extend the board from the cabinet, and that the board is always in the proper position when extended.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A folding cabinet-type ironing board comprising a cabinet having parallel spaced end Walls and a back wall connecting said end walls together, a sectional board transversely hinged to fold over itself and having a front part overhanging one end wall of the cabinet and a rear part extending in alignment with said front part when said board is extended, hinge means hinging said front part of the board to one end wall of the cabinet, a folding brace engageable with said one end wall and supporting the front part of the board to overhang said one end wall of the cabinet in a horizontal ironing position or to be folded within the cabinet, other hinge means hinging the parts of the board together, a collapsible link connecting the rear part of the board to an opposite end wall of the cabinet, an over-center spring yieldably holding said link in extended relation when in one position to one side of the pivot of said link to support the rear part of the board in a horizontal position and collapsing said link when said spring is to the other side of the pivot of said link, and a release device connected from said link adjacent the pivot thereof to the front part of said board and breaking said link and moving the pivot thereof past the center of force of said spring, to accommodate said spring to draw the rear part of said board within the cabinet solely by pivotal movement of the front part of the board toward the rear part thereof.

2. A folding cabinet-type ironing board comprising a cabinet having parallel spaced end walls and a back wall connecting said end walls together, a sectional board having a front part and a rear part transversely hinged to fold over themselves, hinge means hinging a front part of the board to one of said end walls to extend above the top of said one end wall of the cabinet in overhanging relation with respect thereto, other hinge means hinging said front part to a rear part of the board, a link pivoted intermediate its ends and pivotally connected at its outer ends between the bottom of the rear part of the board and an opposite end wall of the cabinet from said one end wall for holding the rear part of the board in horizontal relation with respect to the cabinet, an overcenter spring yieldably holding said link in extended relation when on one side of the pivot of said link and jackkning said link when said spring is moved to the opposite side of the pivot of said link, upon the breaking of the joint of said link, a flexible release device connected from said link adjacent the pivot thereof to the front part of said board and breaking said link to accommodate the rear part of the board to collapse solely by hinging movement of the front part of the board toward the rear part thereof, a brace pivoted to the bottom of the front part of the board for engagement with the outside of said one end wall of the cabinet, and a link pivoted to said one end wall of the cabinet and to said brace and holding said brace in position to engage said wall of the cabinet when the board is in an extended position and folding said brace into engagement with the front part of the board upon the folding of said board within the cabinet.

3. In an ironing board and in combination with a cabinet forming a support and closure therefor and having parallel spaced end walls and a back wall connecting said end walls together, a sectional ironing board divided intermediate its ends into a front part and a rear part, hinge means secured to the bottom of said board at the adjacent ends thereof and hinging the parts of said board together to accommodate one part to fold over the other,

.other hinge means secured to one end wall of the cabinet wat@ with the axis of said first mentioned hinge means positioned beneath the topper said one end wall ef said cabinet and being secured to the front part of the board adjacent the rear end thereof at a point spaced above said one end wall when the board is' in a horizontally extended position, and hinging said front part of the board to said one end wall to extend beneath the top of the cabinet when folded inwardly within the cabinet, meas holding said rear part in a horizontally extended position with respect to the cabinet and operable by folding movement of said front part, to draw said rear part within the cabinet, a disappearing brace pivoted to the bottom of the front part of the board in advance of said one end wall of the cabinet and engageable with the outside of said one end wall, and a link pivoted to said one end wall of the cabinet adjacent the top thereof and pivotally connected to said brace intermediate the ends thereof, and positioning said brace in position to engage the outside of said one end wall of the cabinet when the board is in a horizontally extended position and drawing said brace to extend along the bottom of the front part of the board upon upward folding movement of the front part of the board toward the rear part thereof.

4. ln an ironing board and in combination with a cabinet forming a support and closure therefor and having parallel spaced end walls and a back wall connecting said end walls together, a sectional ironing board divided intermediate its ends into a front part adapted to overhang one end wall of the cabinet and a rear part extending along the cabinet in vertically spaced relation with respect to the tops of one end wall and the back Wall of the cabinet when the board is in an extended ironing position, hinge means secured to the bottoms of adjacent ends of the front and rear parts of the board and hinging the parts of the board together and accommodating one part to fold over the other within the cabinet, other hinge means secured to the inside of one end wall of the cabinet beneath the top thereof with the hinge axis spaced beneath the top of said cabinet, said hinge means having a right angled portion extending over the top of said one end wall of the cabinet in a forward direction and secured to the rear end of the front part of the board and supporting the front part of the board in extended relation with respect to the cabinet, a movable brace pivoted to the bottom of the front part of the board in advance of said one end wall of the cabinet, a link pivoted to said one end wall of the cabinet in spaced relation with respect to the point of engagement of said brace with said one end wall and having pivotal connection with said brace, and positioning said brace to engage said one end wall of the cabinet when the board is in an extended position and moving said brace imo engagement with the board upon folding movement of the front part of the board over the rear part thereof, a

collapsible link pivoted intermediate its ends and pivotally connected between an opposite end wall of the cabinet from said one end wall and the bottom of the rear part of the board adjacent the rear end thereof for moving the rear part of the board into a horizontally extended position upon outward pivotal movement of said front part, an off-center spring holding said link in an extended relation and collapsing said link and the rear part of the board when said spring is moved past the pivot of said link, upon upward folding movement of said front part of the board toward the rear part thereof, and a flexible release device connected from said link adjacent the pivot thereof to the front part of said board and co1- lapsing said board to recess the rear part of said board beneath the top of the cabinet, solely by folding movement of the front part of the board over the rear part thereof.

5. in an ironing board of the class described, a cabinet having parallel end walls, a back wall connecting said end walls together and a folding top hinged to said back wall, a sectional ironing board contained within and extensible from said cabinet and having a rear part adapted to extend along said cabinet when said top is in a folded open position and a front part hinged thereto and and extending from one end Wall of said cabinet, hinge means secured to the inside of one end wall of said cabinet and to the bottom of said front part of said board adjacent the rear end thereof and at a point spaced above the axis of hinging movement of said hinge means, when the board is in an extended position and spacing the front part of said board above the top of said one end wall of said cabinet when the board is' in horizontal irdning position, means collapsibly supporting said rear part to tneinside of an opposite end wall of the cabinet comprising a collapsible link pivoted intermediate its ends and pivoted to and depending from the r'ea part of said board adjacent the rear' e'nd thereof, and also pivoted to the inside of said opposite erid wall of the cabinet beneath the top thereof, an olf-center spring holding said link in extended relation when at one side of the pivot thereof and collapsing said link when at the other side of the pivot thereof, and a flexible release member connected from said collapsible link adjacent the pivot thereof to the bottom of said front part and rear part of the board within the cabinet solely by upward vpivotal movement of the front part of the board toward the rear part.

6. In an ironing board of the class described, a cabinet having parallel end walls, a back wall connecting said end walls together and a folding top hinged to said back wall, a sectional ironing board contained within and extensible from said cabinet and having a rear part adapted to extend along said cabinet when said top is in an open folded position and the board is in an ironing position and a front part hinged thereto and extending from one end Wall of said cabinet and pivotally supported thereon, hinge means secured to said one end wall of said cabinet beneath the top thereof, positioning the axis of hinging movement of said hinge means beneath the top of said one end wall of the cabinet and having a right angled portion extending over the top of said one end wall of the cabinet when the hinge is in an extended pos1t1on and secured to the bottom of the front part of the board adjacent the rear end thereof, a disappearing brace pivoted to the bottom of said front part and engaging the outside of said end wall of the cabinet and bracing said front part of the board to said end Wall when extended, means supporting said rear part of the board to the inside of an opposite end wall of the cabinet comprising a toggle link and an over-center spring holding said toggle link is extended relation and collapsing said link when moved over the pivot of said link, andra flexible release member connected from said toggle link adjacent the pivot thereof, to the bottom of said front part of the board and breaking the toggle to effect the drawing of the rear part of the board within said cabinet solely by upward pivotal movement of said front part of the board over the rear part thereof.

7. In an ironing board of the class described, a cabinet having parallel end walls, a back wall connecting said end walls together and a folding top hinged to said back wall, a sectional ironing board contained within and extensible from said cabinet and having a rear part extending above the top of one end wall and the back wall of said cabinet when the board is in an extended ironing position and a front part hinged to said rear part and extending from one end wall of the cabinet, hinge means secured to the inside of said one end wall of the cabinet and to the bottom of said front part of said board adjacent the rear end of said front part, the axis of said hinge means being beneath the top of said one end wall and said hinge means spacing said front part above the top of said one end wall when in an extended position, means supporting said rear part to the inside of the opposite end wall of the cabinet comprising a link pivoted intermediate its ends and pivotally connected at one end to the bottom of the rear part of said board adjacent the rear end thereof and to the inside of an opposite end Wall of the cabinet opposite said one end wall at a point spaced a substantial distance beneath the top thereof, an over-center spring holding said link in extended relation with respect to said cabinet and collapsing said link when moved over the pivot thereof, a flexible release member connected from said link adjacent the pivot thereof to the bottom of said front part of the board and collapsing said link to recess the rear part of the board beneath the top of said cabinet solely by upward pivotal movement of said front part of the board with respect to said rear part, a disappearing brace pivoted to the bottom of said front part of the board in advance of said one end Wall of the cabinet and extending in an inclined direction from the bottom of said front part of the board into bracing engagement with said one end 7 8 wall of the cabinet, and a link pivoted to said one end front part of the board upon upward pivotal-movement wall of the cabinet at a pomt spaced upwardly from of said front part'toward the rear part thereof. the point of engagement of said brace thereto and having pivotal connection with said t1brace and maintaining said 5 References Cited 1n the le of this patent brace in position to engage e outside of said one end wall of said cabinet when the board is extended and fold- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing said brace into engagement with the bottom of said 2,523,425 Gargaglione Sept. 26, 1950 

